Unofficial news and tips about Google

April 4, 2012

Google's Project Glass

After a few months of speculation, Google revealed some information about the project that will make Google Goggles and other mobile apps more useful. Instead of using a smartphone to find information about an object, translate a text, get directions, compare prices, you can use some smart glasses that augment the reality and help you understand more about that things around you.

"We think technology should work for you—to be there when you need it and get out of your way when you don't. A group of us from Google[x] started Project Glass to build this kind of technology, one that helps you explore and share your world, putting you back in the moment," says Google.

There's also a video that shows why the glasses could be helpful:

Google's concept glasses have a camera, a microphone and can connect to the Internet to send and receive data in real time. The interface is simple and it only shows relevant information.

One of the people who used the glasses said that "they let technology get out of your way. If I want to take a picture I don't have to reach into my pocket and take out my phone; I just press a button at the top of the glasses and that's it."

In February, New York Times reported that "the glasses [could] go on sale to the public by the end of the year. (...) The people familiar with the Google glasses said they would be Android-based, and will include a small screen that will sit a few inches from someone's eye. They will also have a 3G or 4G data connection and a number of sensors including motion and GPS." Seth Weintraub found that "the navigation system currently used is a head tilting-to scroll and click, (...) I/O on the glasses will also include voice input and output, and we are told the CPU/RAM/storage hardware is near the equivalent of a generation-old Android smartphone".

It will be interesting to see if Google will actually sell these smart glasses. There are a lot of issues that need to be solved before releasing a commercial product: from battery life to packaging so much technology in a such a small product, from improving Google Goggles to handling real-time video streaming.

Honestly even if google pulled it off, they'd be much bulkier, less user friendlier and undoubtably uglier than what we assume they'll be. My other problem is that people walking around with glasses that they don't need look ridiculous. Along with the fact I don't doubt that they'd be shat out before being as ready as they could be.

I used to look twice when seeing someone with one of those blackberry things on their ear. I thought they had a medical problem at first, some condition that needed monitoring in this particularly obtrusive way.

1. This HAS to be able to pair with you Android phone.2. Does it work on it's own? How does it connect to the internet if you're in a no wifi zone without your phone sharing internet? (PS, that last one is a bit of a joke, putting 3G in them would be a HORRIBLE idea)

It's interesting that the loss-of-privacy angle isn't even the #1 concern, but industrial design or commercial availability. There is no way I would even consider such a widget, if it were tied directly into proprietary software running at the googleplex.

why not just let the hardware in the smartphone (CPU, RAM, batteries..) and the glasses will just embeds the motions captures and the display, and make a Bluetooth 4.0 connections between the station (smartphone) and the widget (the glasses) ? like this no harmful wave, no heavy weight, and powerful capabilities!

Idk if this is a cool invention or a scary invention!! If this technology starts to singe out people or if I get popping advertisements or if I get messages from the DHS on this then I am going to throw it away!!!

With these glasses no more chance to save the soul - every second will be wasted for everything around you, but it will not be spent for thinking about the GOD and the soul. The humain beings are reaching their way for an eternal spiritual putrefaction by applying new technologies... SOS!!!

I don't think google would prank us with something so realistically possible and would probably sell well and be so useful... besides if you look at the picture of the woman at the top of the screen, her vision is not obstructed by anything and it is only over one eye she has to look up and if its only over one eye the opacity of the notification would be reduced to at least half considering most people focus from one eye at a time =]

The possibilities about technology seems endless. I mean, this glasses is really a great idea too. If this hits the public market, I have no doubts that this will replace all smartphones today. And I wonder if glasses company would also make this kind of glasses.

i really like this. i would use it but not out and about with my freinds. i really like the fact u can take pics with it. i have always wanted to blink my eyes and it automaticaly takes a picture! :D its a good idea but i bet its going to be very expensive and it probaly wont work :D